EduAsiaNews, Purwekerto – The Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Jenderal Soedirman (Unsoed), hosted the 21st Joint Conference on Chemistry (JCC) 2026 on Thursday (September 17, 2026). Held at the Auditorium on the third floor of the FMIPA Building, the conference was attended by nearly 300 participants, with almost 100 research articles presented.
JCC 2026 carried the theme “Integrating Chemical Science, Local Knowledge, and Natural Resources for Sustainable Innovation.” The theme highlights the importance of integrating chemical science, local knowledge, and the utilization of natural resources to generate sustainable innovations. Chair of the JCC 2026 Organizing Committee, Roy Andreas, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., said that the conference provided a platform for experts, researchers, practitioners, and academics from various universities to exchange ideas and establish research collaborations.
“The conference aims to encourage the development of innovative and sustainable solutions through a holistic approach that integrates various perspectives, including Materials Chemistry and Nanotechnology; Physical, Catalytic, and Theoretical/Computational Chemistry; Organic Chemistry, Natural Products, and Food Chemistry; Biochemistry; Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology; as well as Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, and Chemistry Education,” Roy said.
According to him, integrating chemical science with local wisdom is one of the strengths that can be further developed to generate relevant innovations, from the local to the global level. One area with significant potential for further study is Mount Slamet, which possesses natural resources that can support the development of herbal medicines, geothermal energy, and local food products.
Roy expressed hope that the ideas and research findings discussed at JCC 2026 would contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge while strengthening research networks and collaboration among universities.
“This year, participants from various universities also contributed to the organization of this conference. At least 15 to 20 universities from different regions across Indonesia were involved in the conference. In addition, international participants came from Japan, China, Thailand, and Malaysia,” he said.
JCC 2026 was officially opened by Acting Rector of Unsoed, Prof. Dr. Ali Rokhman, M.Si. In his remarks, he said that hosting JCC at Unsoed was not only an opportunity to strengthen academic networks among members of the JCC Consortium but also to open broader opportunities for collaboration, including with international partners.
“Unsoed aspires to be recognized globally as a center for the development of rural resources and local wisdom. It is not merely an institution that studies natural resources, but also an institution that plays a role in transforming these resources into sources of knowledge, innovation, and sustainable prosperity,” Ali said.
He added that chemistry plays an important role in this process. Through chemistry, natural resources and local knowledge can be understood, processed, developed, and transformed into materials, products, technologies, and processes with added value.
“We hope that JCC 2026 will further strengthen Unsoed’s position, not merely as an observer of sustainable rural development, but also as an active contributor and a designer of innovative solutions rooted in local potential and supported by scientific knowledge,” he said.
The conference featured five plenary speakers: Prof. Shu Yin, Ph.D. of Tohoku University, Japan; Dr. Zhou Kuanbo of Xiamen University, China; Assoc. Prof. Saluma Samanman, Ph.D. of Princess of Naradhiwas University, Thailand; Prof. Amin Fatoni, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D. of Unsoed; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aemi Ayazwani Abdul Keyon of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
In addition to serving as a forum for knowledge exchange, JCC 2026 is expected to generate ideas, documentation, and research outputs that can be further developed through collaboration among researchers and universities.
